Richard Gere

Long recognized as one of Hollywood's most bankable leading men, actor Richard Gere was at times almost as widely known for his brief marriage to supermodel Cindy Crawford, as well as his spiritual co...
Read More...

"I had so much fun doing Pretty Woman the first time around that I'm trying it again as a Broadway musical. We have secured the rights to do a stage adaptation. To see Vivian and Edward brought to life again with music will hopefully be something to cheer about the second time around too." Director Garry Marshall is turning his Richard Gere/Julia Roberts movie, which is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary, into a stage musical.

Julia Roberts has stunned fans of her hit romantic comedy Pretty Woman by revealing her prostitute character was originally set for a sad ending after turning to drugs.
The actress recently reunited with castmates Richard Gere, Hector Elizondo and Laura San Giacomo and director Garry Marshall to reminisce about the movie on the 25th anniversary of its release, and during the TV chat, which aired on U.S. breakfast show Today on Tuesday (24Mar15), she admitted her character, Vivian, wasn't destined for a happy ending when she first signed on for the project, about a wealthy businessman who falls in love with a prostitute. She claims the 1990 film was previously titled "3,000", in reference to the money Gere's character, Edward, paid Vivian, explaining, "At the end of the original script, Richard's character threw my character out of the car, threw the money on top of her and drove away and the credits rolled."
The ending was tweaked once Disney studio bosses took control of the film and recruited Marshall as director, but Gere wasn't so sure the role of Edward was for him, because he thought the character lacked depth. He says, "There was just nothing. The joke was it was a suit. You could put a suit on a goat and put it out there, and it would work." He agreed to meet with Roberts to see if they had any chemistry, and he was so taken by the actress, he agreed to sign on after she begged him to take the job. Gere recalls, "We're getting to know each other. We're flirty-flirty, nice-nice... And (Marshall) calls up and is kind of like, 'How's it going?'" It was then that Roberts handed him the plea on a sticky note: "She turns it around and she pushes it to me, and it said, 'Please say yes!'. It was so sweet, and I said (to Marshall), 'I just said yes.'"

"It seems like 45 years, honestly, it feels like a long time ago (that) we did that... It was two marriages ago for me!" Richard Gere jokes about the 25th anniversary of his movie classic Pretty Woman. The veteran actor split from second wife Carey Lowell in 2013 and was previously married to model Cindy Crawford.

Pretty Woman stars Julia Roberts and Richard Gere have reunited with director Garry Marshall to reminisce about the classic romantic comedy, 25 years after its release. The trio was joined by fellow castmembers Laura San Giacomo and Hector Elizondo for the recent get-together, which was taped for an upcoming episode of U.S. breakfast show Today. The anniversary special will air next Tuesday (24Mar15).

Richard Gere has been named the 2015 recipient of the Peter J. Owens Award for excellence in acting at the 58th San Francisco International Film Festival in California next month (Apr15). Gere will also be publicly honoured at An Evening with Richard Gere at the Castro Theatre on 26 April (15), which will be followed by a screening of his 2014 film Time Out of Mind

Some of the greatest and most memorable movie quotes of all time were completely unplanned. Don't believe us? Take a look at 20 of our favorites below and see for yourself:
1. Annie Hall
reddit.com
Woody Allen's famous sneeze as his character, Alvy Singer, picks up a box of cocaine at a party, and after finding out that it's $2,000 an ounce, he asks what the appeal is...before sneezing all of the powder away into its owner's face. The sneeze was not scripted, believe it or not. The moment tested well with audiences and the other actors in the scene reacted so perfectly to it that Allen decided to keep it.
2. Titanic
GIPHY/peculiargroove.tumblr.com
Perhaps one of the film's most memorable lines, Leonardo DiCaprio's feeling of invincibility would never have been captured had he not ad-libbed the line, "I'm king of the world!" Titanic has other improvised moments as well, like the scene where Jack teaches Rose to spit and when Rose spits in Cal's face.
3. Being John Malkovich
coed.com
Though this moment is contested somewhat, we still love the story. A few extras allegedly snuck some beer onto the set to make the most of long hours of filming. One such extra, who was (may or may not have been) supposed to throw something at actor John Malkovich's head from a passing vehicle, shouted "think fast," making the scene even funnier. Rumor has it that because of the line's inclusion, the extra had to receive a generous pay raise, all because of a drunken addition to the movie.
4. Blade Runner
GIPHY/koy44nisqats1.tumblr.com
As Blade Runner, a film about a bounty hunter seeking androids to "retire," reaches its conclusion, its main character, Rick Deckard, is saved by the android he is supposed to kill. Right before preparing to die, the android, Roy Batty, gives a monologue reflecting on his past experiences. Though the monologue was indeed scripted, actor Rutger Hauer added the beautiful phrase, "like tears in rain."
5. Taxi Driver
GIPHY/thegoodfilms.com
The script said "Travis talks to himself in the mirror." Robert De Niro took care of the rest. Because of this, we're left with one of the best lines in movie history, one of the greatest performances of all time, and the best idea for a theme party ever.
6. Dumb and Dumber
gifsoup.com
The original script featured the titular idiots to argue over jelly beans in order to test the nerves of the hitman they unknowingly picked up as a hitchhiker. Since this is a movie with Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels, it evolved into something altogether different. The most annoying sound in the world was, for better or for worse, entirely improvised.
7. Good Will Hunting
GIPHY/mattybing1025.tumblr.com
Robin Williams received his first and only Oscar for his dramatic role in Good Will Hunting. You may be able to take Robin Williams out of the comedy, but you can't keep the comedy out of him, and thus, in the midst of a pivotal scene in the movie, Williams broke into an unplanned story about his wife's flatulence. Matt Damon's uncontrollable laughter is genuine, as are the moments the camera shakes because of the cameraman's laughter. That's a magical movie moment.
8. Goodfellas
picslist.com
The most memorable moment of Martin Scorsese's 1990 mobster movie is easily Joe Pesci's refusal to be called funny. This line was allegedly ad-libbed and inspired by a real incident where Pesci called a not-very-pleasant gangster funny.
9. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
rhube.tumblr.com
Hardcore Star Wars fans may know this bit already: the famous Han Solo moment where he tells Princess Leia "I know" wasn't scripted. The line was originally written as "I love you too," but didn't seem to fit into character. Harrison Ford suggested they change it to something a little more in line with Han Solo's personality, and thus, the greatest response to "I love you" was born.
10. Pretty Woman
GIPHY/peculiargroove.tumblr.com
In a gloriously unscripted moment, Richard Gere's character was supposed to present Julia Roberts with a stunning diamond necklace, but instead playfully snapped the bling box closed. The unplanned move, and Roberts' perfect reaction to it, was so honest and fit the film so well, director Garry Marshall kept it in the finished version.
11. Raiders of the Lost Ark
taringa.net
The epic sword fight that was scheduled for this scene (or perhaps it was a whip vs. sword situation) was ignored entirely in favor of this easier-to-film scene. The moment, when Indiana Jones just nonchalantly pulls out his pistol and does away with the swordsman, wasn't scripted. Spielberg agreed to do it to make filming easier for Harrison Ford, who was feeling a bit under the weather at the time. Thus, movie history was born.
12. Zoolander
luisllamas.tumblr.com
After David Duchovny's character explains to Ben Stiller's Derek Zoolander why male models have been behind every political assassination of the last 200 years, Stiller forgot the line he was supposed to stay in true Zoolander fashion, so he just repeated his previous line, "Why male models?" This prompted Duchovny's equally funny ad-lib, "Are you serious? I just told you that a moment ago..."
13. The Godfather
perezhilton.com
The Godfather has a scene where Peter Clemenza is heading out to whack Paulie, but before he does, his wife asks him to pick up some cannolis. While the scene following Paulie's death was originally scripted as just "Leave the gun," Clemenza added a bit of humor and continuity to the film by adding the second part.
14. The Shining
rebloggy.com
Stanley Kubrick's iconic adaptation of the Stephen King classic features the ad-libbed line "Here's Johnny!" Jack Nicholson improvised this line after chopping his way through the door and sticking his face in. The quote, referencing Johnny Carson's immensely popular late night show's introduction, added a bit of humor to an incredibly terrifying moment. It also, strangely, made the moment way creepier too.
15. Jaws
motherjones.com
Really, though, there was nothing else to be said. After seeing the shark for the first time, this unscripted moment was the only logical reaction a person could have. And now it's legendary.
16. The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up
moviefancentral.com
The extremely memorable, easy-to-imitate moments from both of these films were ad-libbed entirely by stars Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd. Director Judd Apatow had enough faith in both comedians to allow them to go on for several minutes in an unedited clip. The scenes may get a little annoying, but they are undeniably funny.
17. Midnight Cowboy
imoviequotes.com
Legend has it that this NYC cab ignored the indications that a movie was shooting on this street and drove down anyway. Dustin Hoffman's brilliant reaction was genuine and in character, and the rest is history.
18. Casablanca
GIPHY
Arguably the most iconic line in the entire film, this one was ad-libbed by Humphrey Bogart during filming. Apparently, it's something he would say to Ingrid Bergman while teaching her poker between takes.
19. The Silence of the Lambs
GIPHY/reddit.com
While the line about eating a census taker's liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti may have been in the script (as well as the book), the terrifying slurping hiss Anthony Hopkins lets out next was certainly not. It was left in the film because, hello, it's totally the creepiest thing a cannibal could do after discussing a meal.
20. Caddyshack
GIPHY/seen-on-the-screen.tumblr.com
Bill Murray, as surely everyone knows, can do literally anything. He's the greatest. Clearly director Harold Ramis knew that too -- the script for Caddyshack featured a scene where Murray's character Carl emulates a kid announcing his fantasy sports moment. Murray simply asked for four rows of mums, and boom! Movie magic.

"I have never dyed my hair in my life - and I am not going to start now. I have had to darken it for a couple of films, such as Unfaithful. It perhaps knocks off five years, no more. But the moment filming is over, I just let it go grey again. It is the same with facial surgery. Why bother with all that stuff? I am not kept awake worrying about such things at five o'clock in the morning. I try to keep the weight off and stay fit and leave it at that." Actor Richard Gere, 65, is determined to grow old gracefully.

Veteran actor Michael Douglas is set to be honoured with a top prize for his contributions to the film industry. The Wall Street star has been unveiled as the 2015 recipient of the George Eastman Award, named after the photography innovator who founded the Eastman Kodak Company, commonly known as Kodak.
The Oscar winner will be presented with the accolade at a ceremony in New York on 14 May (15).
Previous honourees include Charlie Chaplin, Gregory Peck, Martin Scorsese, Meryl Streep and Richard Gere.

British actor Shazad Latif was almost dropped from the cast of The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel after a visa issue stopped him travelling to the set in India. The Spooks star was cast in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel sequel alongside Dame Judi Dench, Dame Maggie Smith and Richard Gere, but visa problems stopped him flying out to the shoot, and he reveals producers began "training up another guy" to take over.
However, Latif was later given a reprieve when the paperwork was eventually sorted out and he was able to join his castmates on set.
He tells the London Evening Standard, "There was a mix-up in the paperwork. I had a massive visa issue. It was just bureaucracy."
The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel hits cinemas later this month (Feb15).

Richard Gere's estranged wife Carey Lowell is still a part of the former couple's New York bed and breakfast venture despite false reports suggesting she had stepped down as a co-owner. Reports emerged earlier this week (beg03Nov14) that following the couple's split, the former Bond girl and Law & Order regular was no longer a partner in the Bedford Post Inn, which the stars opened together in 2007.
However, Robert S. Cohen, a lawyer representing Lowell, has now insisted the actress has retained a "significant ownership stake" in the business, according to New York Post gossip column Page Six.
Gere and Lowell married in 2002, but they are currently going through divorce proceedings.

Delivered solid performance as a cocky attorney defending former altar boy Edward Norton against allegations of murder in "Primal Fear"

Visited Tibetan refugee camps in Nepal

First studied the Middle Way of Siddhartha Gotama Buddha as preached by a Japanese sect

Starred in financial thriller "Arbitrage" as a fraudulent hedge fund manager; re-teamed with Susan Sarandon as husband and wife in the film

Played a discredited journalist embarking on an unauthorized mission to find a war criminal in "The Hunting Party"

Cast in singing and dancing role as sleazy lawyer Billy Flynn in film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical "Chicago"; received a SAG nomination for Best Actor

Starred in Jon Avnet's "Red Corner," a project particularly close to his heart for its attack on the repressive Chinese regime

Won gymnastics scholarship to the University of Massachusetts

Summary

Long recognized as one of Hollywood's most bankable leading men, actor Richard Gere was at times almost as widely known for his brief marriage to supermodel Cindy Crawford, as well as his spiritual convictions to Buddhism and political support of the region of Tibet. Emerging as an up-and-coming talent both on and off-Broadway, Gere soon garnered attention for roles in films like "Looking for Mr. Goodbar" (1977) and Terence Malick's "Days of Heaven" (1978). A career-making turn as the titular "American Gigolo" (1980) made him an instant sex symbol, while his magnetic performance as "An Officer and a Gentleman" (1982) solidified his reputation as a top leading man. However, a series of box office disappointments followed, until his turn as a modern day Prince Charming opposite Julia Roberts in "Pretty Woman" (1990) once again made the actor a hot commodity. While offerings like the legal thriller "Primal Fear" (1996) met with modest success, Gere returned to his Broadway musical roots to reinvent himself onscreen for the Academy Award-winning film adaptation of "Chicago" (2002), which earned him a Golden Globe. Although he continued to work steadily over the following decade, it wasn't until the harrowing drama "Arbitrage" (2012) that Gere once again found himself on the receiving end of unanimous critical praise. Over a career that experienced its fair share of highs and lows, Gere remained a consistent film presence, frequently surprising audiences with new levels of craft and charm.

Education

Name

North Syracuse Central High School

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Notes

Gere wrote the introductions for Ocean of Wisdom, a compilation of the Dalai Lama's teachings, and Wisdom and Compassion: The Sacred Art of Tibet, the catalog for a major traveling exhibition organized by Tibet House.

"I had very long hair, which I refused to cut... When I first came to the city, to New York, it came down to my t*ts. I looked like Rita Hayworth." – Gere on his arrival in NYC in the late 1960s, quoted in "Gere-ing Up" by Matthew Rolston, Fame, December 1989/January 1990

"I'm a special friend to the Tibetans, and it's a huge responsiblity. I've been talking about Tibet for 15 years. There wasn't anybody else who could help them get some attention, in the media sense. Certainly there was the Dalai Lama, but in the more everyday, mundane sense there was nobody. Thank God, there have been a lot more people coming forward recently. I'm like an elder statesman." – Gere in Daily News, Oct. 27, 1997

"When I am there [Tibet], I am very happy. The Tibetans radiate. They literally send out light. His Holiness [the Dalai Lama] generates love and compassion to every human being. He has committed himself to that. I haven't made that leap yet. I haven't given up self-aspiration. I still love making movies." – Gere to The Los Angeles Times, Nov. 10, 1997

"I didn't think 'Chicago' was that great when I went to see it on Broadway," he says. "I just didn't know how you could make a movie out of it...But my agent believed in it enormously and he sent me the script, and it was absolutely brilliant. It ended up being probably the best experience of my life." – Gere quoted in Biography, Summer 2004

Gere was honored as Harvard's Hasty Pudding Man of the Year in 2006.

"I always liked playing romantic leads, because they're more interesting characters, in a way," says Gere. "I found them interesting because they related to my own life, and my own searches for a way to make this man-woman thing look right and feel good." – from EW, April 6, 2007

In April 2007, an Indian court ordered the arrest of Gere for kissing Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty at an AIDS awareness event, saying it was an obscene act committed in public. Gere could be sent to jail for up to three months or fined or both for the crime if he is arrested. He can be held if he visits the country again.

"One interesting thing I've discovered is that although I have to feel something in front of the camera for my acting to have an impact, and although that feeling has to be genuine, it doesn't have to be the feeling I'm actually supposed to be showing." – Gere to GQ, May 2007

Affiliations

Founding member (with composer Philip Glass and several academics), Tibet House, a nonprofit organization based in NYC's Greenwich Village dedicated to the preservation of Tibetan culture